I'm Really Pissed This Veterans Day and I'm Sick of What Passes for Patriotism

There's about 4,800 homeless veterans in Los Angeles. Luckily, they're in L.A. and not here, in Chicago, where it was 20 degrees last night. Happy f**king Veterans Day.

If you ask those 4,800 homeless veterans, would any of them care if you stand, kneel or squat and take a dump during the national anthem? Would any of that help them out one single bit?

If you want to support veterans, how about starting with those in need of shelter? How about taking care of those poisoned by Agent Orange in Vietnam? They don't have another fifty years to wait for a decision about whether or not they were poisoned by poison.

For years we've been listening to one of our political parties telling us who is a real American and how to act patriotic. Now they embrace blatant hypocrisy and cast aside any pretense of patriotism.

They've pledged their allegiance to the money-politics complex.

I have almost no beliefs in common with John McCain and didn't care for his presidential campaign. McCain, however has always shown himself to be a man who loves his country and serves it with honor.

He is also one of the most courageous, self-sacrificing men any of us will ever see in real life. When McCain was a prisoner of war in Vietnam, he declined an offer if early release.

After years of torture at the hands of his captors, John McCain CHOSE to stay with his men instead of returning to the United States for long overdue medical care.

Whether you call that bravery, patriotism or whatever, America has always held John McCain in the highest esteem. He is a hero by anyone's definition.

When Donald J. Trump said that John McCain was not a hero and that he (Trump) preferred people who were not captured, my jaw, along with the jaws of millions of Americans dropped.

That should have been the end of ANYONE'S political aspirations. And yet, I looked around me in places where people gathered to honor the military and I saw no outrage, no spurning of those words that should have been an affront to every American.

Words from a draft dodging dilettante who compared the risk of contracting venereal disease at Studio 54 with combat. Words from a narcissist who compared building a business empire at the expense of everyone else with serving his country.

When Trump attacked Gold Star parents Khizr and Ghazala Khan, I looked to those around me for some response that would reflect the reverence of the Gold Star sacrifice. I saw none, just as there was none when he attacked Myeshia Johnson, a grieving, pregnant Gold Star wife.

Everyone seems to have walked away from their principles to embrace a man who has none. The most Christian of the Christians accept the most un-Christian behavior with open arms.

Those who spent their lives honoring service and sacrifice now accept blatant disrespect from a charlatan who takes the word of a man trained in deceit and an enemy of our nation over those who serve our nation at the risk of their own lives.

Until we're taking care of those who have actually served, let's ignore phony controversies stirred up by a man who only seeks to inflame the angry and nurture hatred and pseudo-patriotism. Standing during the national anthem will not bring back one dead soldier, will not shelter the homeless nor cure the sick.

Don't talk to me about honoring veterans, I can't hear your words over the noise of your actions.

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Meet The Blogger

Bob Abrams

Bob "RJ" Abrams is a political junkie, all-around malcontent and supporter of America's warriors. After a career path that took him from merchandising at rock concerts to managing rock bands to a 27-year stint in the pits of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, he's seen our nation from up and down.
As Regional Coordinator of the Warriors' Watch Riders (a motorcycle support group for the military and their families) Bob plays an active role in our nation's support of America's warriors and their families.
Send comments and/or suggestions to bob@bobabrams.net